‘There’s no justice’: New York introduces bill to increase oversight on body scanners in state prisons

New York introduced a state bill on March 18 that aims to regulate the use of body scanners in correctional facilities across the state. Body scanners were implemented in all state prisons last year as a condition set by striking correctional officers — with the stated purpose of fighting contraband. But since their widespread implementation, many women have come out citing that they have been turned away and even indefinitely suspended from visiting their incarcerated loved ones after the scanners flagged items like menstrual products, surgical implants and more as contraband. Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with those involved in the making of the bill, including Bernadette Ruby of the New York Civil Liberties Union, as well as loved ones like 67-year-old Marie Denny, whose son is currently incarcerated, and others who’ve faced these issues firsthand on their experiences navigating the body scanners.